Freezing tray



Feb. 5, 1952 R. s. BOYLE FREEZING TRAY Filed July 2s,--1e4a J M 6 m w m QUE Ra B H UHM x. J1 3 Patented F el). 5, 1952 FREEZING TRAY Robert S. Boyle, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The Cube Drawer Corporation, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 28, 1948, Serial No. 41,039

3 Claims.

This invention relates to freezing trays, especially to freezing trays having a flexible liner therein with a multiplicity of individual pockets being formed in the freezing tray for the formation of ice cubes or the like.

Heretofore, several different patented constructions for flexible ice cube trays have been placed on the market and one of the most desirable types of a freezing tray is that shown in and protected by Glomb U. S. Patent No. 2,053,- 711. This patent covers a freezing tray construc tion wherein a grid member that has a plurality of pocket defining sections with open bottom portions is provided, and a rubber liner or freezing tray is associated with and supported by the grid with the rubber liner having a plurality of small, substantially rectangular shaped pockets with closed bottoms provided therein so as to form a liquid receivin receptacle having a plurality of separate pockets therein. Thus, ice cubes or the like formed in the tray can readily be removed therefrom by individual distortion of the individual rubber pocket which is exposed at the top and the bottom by the support grid. The grid forming the support member for the liner element is so formed that the individual pockets provided are of gradually reduced width or length with decreasing thickness of the pocket whereby ejection of the individual ice cubes formed in the tray is facilitated.

It has been found that with ice cube trays of the previous types, it would be possible for the rubber liner to be distorted so as to contact the supporting surface for the freezing trays. Hence, it would be difiicult to release the freezing tray after a freezing action. Furthermore, provision of a light weight, flexible liner in a freezing tray has been somewhat difiicult due to the fact that the rubber layer had to be made strong enough so as to retain itself in engagement with the support grid and to retain its shape even though an appreciable weight, relatively speaking, of water, was supported by the rubber-like material.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved freezing tray, having a flexible liner element, of the general class described hereinbefore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible freezing tray liner element wherein there is no distortion of the flexible layer when water or other material to be frozen is positioned therein.

A further object of the invention is to obtain a positive grip between a light weight flexible liner element for a freezing tray and the support grid provided therefor.

Yet another object of the invention is to form an effective, long lived freezing tray from a minimum of a grid support material and from a minimum of material used in forming a flexible liner therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a freezing tray which can be readily removed from engagement with its support member after a freezing action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible liner element for a freezing tray wherein the liner is provided with special channel means for engaging with the grid support so as to obtain positive interengagement therebetween.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible liner element for a freezing tray wherein the flexible liner has a plurality of individual pockets formed therein and with the bottom surface of the pockets in the liner being molded in the shape of catenery curves extending across the pocket so as to form a free hanging bottom portion therefor.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Attention now is particularly directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partially broken away and shown in section, of a freezing tray embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a left side elevation of the freezing tray of Fig. l; and.

Fig 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the details of the structure shown in the drawings, correspondin reference numerals will be used to indicate corresponding parts on the drawing and referred to in the specification. V

The drawing shows a freezing tray which is generally indicated by the numeral I and this freezing tray, which is particularly adapted to form a plurality of separate frozen articles, is shown as including a support or holding grid 2 which usually is of rigid construction and may be made from cast aluminum, or other suitable material such as metal or plastic. The grid support 2 forms a plurality of pocket defining walls or sections in the freezing tray and to this end the grid support 2 includes a plurality of longitudinally directed bars 3 and a plurality of transversely extending bars 4 which are positioned normally to the longitudinally extending bars 3 and which form a plurality of pocket forming compartments in the grid support. Fig. 2 of the drawings best shows that the transversely extending bars 4 are of a tapered thickness and decrease in height toward the upper end or upper surface of a grid support. Fig. 3 indicates that the center longitudinally extending bar 3 is also of a similar tapered construction so as to facilitate extraction of frozen objects from the individual pockets formed in the ice or freezing tray of the invention.

The actual liquid receiving portion of the freezing tray I of the invention comprises a flexible liner which has a plurality of pockets 6 formed therein with the pocket 6 having closed bottoms and being adapted to fit snugly into the compartment sections or pockets formed in the grid support 2. Usually the from a rubber or rubber-like material, although, when desired, it may be formed from other flexible material. Usually the liner is of very thin, uniform thickness such as about 1 1 of an inch or less. tain suitable vulcanizing and compounding ingredients and usually will be vulcanized when on its forming mold. Normally the freezing tray will be formed by a dipping operation such as is disclosed in and covered by my previous U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,278,764 which covers an excellent dipping method by which a flexible liner can be provided.

As a feature of the invention which is best brought out in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the bottom section 6 of each of the pockets 6 in the liner 5 is so formed that it will not be individually distorted when water or other liquid is positioned therein. That is, the surfaces 6 of the pockets 6 are formed substantially to the shape of catenary curves whereby load impressed thereon will not change the normal shape of or positioning of such bottom surfaces of the pockets. This construction of the bottom surfaces of the pockets is an important element of the present invention, since it is highly desirable to form the flexible liner 5 from a minimum of material, without sacrifice of the strength of the liner, for several reasons. One of such reasons is that by reducing the thickness of the flexible liner 5, an improved and increased freezing rate is obtained. Likewise, reducing the thickness of the liner reduces the amount of material contained therein and reduces the cost of same together with the manufacturing time involved for such flexible liner. Fig. 2 of the invention clearly shows that the freely positioned or sup ported pockets 6 place the bottom surfaces Ii of such pockets appreciably above the lower edge surfaces of the grid support 2. Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing best show that the longitudinally extending bars 3 and 3 are all of greater depth than the corresponding transversely directed bars 4 of the grid support, except for the end bars that may be of the same height as the bars 3. The top surfaces of all of such bars are flush and define an upper plane for the freezing tray whereas the bottom surface of the freezing tray I provides a relatively small area of the freezing tray which will be in contact with the tray support. Hence, during the freezing operation there will be only a small area of the freezing tray in contact with the support provided thereof whereby it will be easier to free such freezing tray from its support flexible liner 5 is formed The rubber usually will conafter a freezing action. Furthermore, the construction shown herein eliminates some of the material forming the grid support 2 and thereby reduces its cost and increases its efiiciency in a freezing action.

Inasmuch as it is highly desirable to form the flexible liner 5 of a minimum thickness, it is sometimes difficult to retain the liner in a desired position, without sagging, in the grid support. So as to facilitate the engagement between the flexible liner and the freezing tray, a longitudinally extending, outwardly protruding, upper flange I is formed on the upper edge portions of the outer or longitudinally directed bars 3 of the grid support. Thus, in molding or otherwise forming the flexible liner 5, it is provided with a longitudinally extending channel or rib receiving section 8 formed thereon so as to engage snugly with each of the flanges I adjacent each side of the freezing tray I.

Movement of the freezing tray I is best controlled by means of a handle portion or finger tab 9 that extends from one end of the grid support 2. Usually this handle section 9 is formed integrally with the remainder of the grid support 2 and has a downwardly inclined edge surface I0 provided at the front thereof to facili tate engagement of the freezing tray unit by the fingers when inserting the tray into freezing compartment or when removing it therefrom. Furthermore, the handle section 9 may be reenforced by means of integral edge flanges II which are associated with the grid support 2 and usually formed integrally therewith so as to reenforce the handle sections 9 and I0 and provide a sturdy grip portion therefor which is integrally molded or formed with relation to the grid support 2.

It will be seen that the freezing tray of the invention can be made of any desired size and with any required number of freezing pockets formed therein. Likewise, the freezing tray can be used to process any desired material whether it be water, ice cream mix, other frozen con fections, or the like. However, the normal use of the freezing tray will be for forming ice cubes in the freezing section of a home refrigerator. Thus, usually it is desired to remove ice cubes formed in the freezing tray individually. The construction of the invention is particularly suited for this use and it is possible to withdraw frozen ice cubes from the freezing tray merely' by use of a thumb and forefinger of ones handwhereby the thumb will push the bottom sur face 6 of the pockets formed of the flexible liner upwardly and readily and easily eject any individual ice cubes formed in the freezing tray of the invention.

By forming the surfaces 6 of the flexible liner to the shape of catenary curves that extend across a dimension of the liner pocket, they will not sag when a material is placed therein. Fig. 2 shows that the surfaces 6 connect to the opposed wall sections smoothly in ending the catenary curves and that similar curved sections connect the opposed edges of the surfaces to their adjacent walls. In some instances, it may be desirable to form substantially semi-spherical bottoms for the pockets.

It will be realized that the support grid can be formed in any desired manner but usually will, be made by a casting or molding operation.

Use of the particular type of flexible liner dis-- closed herein provides an exact relationship between such liner and its grid support whereby excessive distortion of the flexible liner is avoided when in use. Furthermore, the liner will be retained in a desired fixed relationship with the fixed support even though the liner itself is very flexible and is formed from extremely thin material so that the objects of the invention are achieved.

While in accord with the patent statutes, I have specifically illustrated and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be particularly understood that I am not to be limited thereto or thereby, but that the scope of my invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A freezing tray comprising a rigid grid open at the bottom and having a plurality of individual pocket sections formed therein, said grid having longitudinally extending bars and transversely extending bars that form the pocket sections in same, said bars having slightly tapered flat surfaces forming the walls of said pocket sections. said longitudinally extending bars being deeper than said transversely extending bars and with the outer longitudinally extending bars each having an outwardly directed flange formed on the upper edge of its outer surface, and a rubber pocket forming liner associated with said grid and being provided with a plurality of closed bottom pockets adapted to seat snugly in the pocket sections of said grid, the bottoms of the pockets in said rubber liner being in the general shape of caternary curves extending across same, said rubber liner also having edge portions adapted to extend around the flanges on said grid in engagement therewith and down into contact with the bars of the grid to removably position said liner snugly on said grid.

2. A freezing tray comprising a rigid grid open at the bottom and having a plurality of individual pocket sections formed therein, said grid having longitudinally extending bars and transversely extending bars that form the pockets in same, said bars having slightly tapered flat surfaces forming the walls of said pocket sections, said outer longitudinally extending bars each having an outwardly directed flange formed on their outer surfaces, and a flexible pocket forming liner associated with said grid and being provided with a plurality of closed bottom pockets adapted to seat snugly in the pockets of said grid, the bottoms of the pockets in said liner being in the shape of catenary curves extending across one dimension of same, said liner also having edge portions adapted to extend around the flanges on said grid in engagement therewith and down into contact with the bars of the grid to removably position said liner snugly on said grid.

3. A freezing tray comprising a rigid grid-like frame, said frame including a plurality of longitudinal and transversely extending bar portions intersecting to form a plurality of rectangular pocket sections open at the top and bottom, said bars having slightly tapered flat surfaces forming the walls of said pocket sections, said longitudinal bar portions being deeper than said transverse bar portions whereby the frame is supported by said longitudinal bar portions when placed on a flat surface, an outwardly directed flange integral with the upper edge, the two longitudinal bar portions forming the outer longitudinal margins of the frame, a relatively thin rubber pocket-forming liner having a plurality of integrally formed closed bottom pockets adapted to fit on said frame, the walls of the pockets fitting snugly against the tapered fiat surfaces forming the walls of the frame pocket sections, and an inverted lip portion around the edge of the liner and adapted to engage the flange on the frame to removably secure the liner in position on the frame.

ROBERT S. BOYLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

